Three Real Madrid players in the Golden Boy race. One of them came through the academy
Real Madrid have three representatives on the list of candidates for the 2026 Golden Boy award. The club have officially confirmed that Yan Diomande, Endrick and Thiago Pitarch are among the 100 players currently in contention.
The award, organised by Italian newspaper “Tuttosport”, recognises the best young player competing in Europe. Transfermarkt helps compile the ranking, which is open to players born on or after 1 January 2006 and registered in one of Europe’s 25 highest-ranked top divisions.
Real Madrid’s three candidates have followed very different routes. Diomande represents the club’s latest wave of young signings expected to compete for a first-team place immediately. Endrick has returned after spending the second half of last season on loan at Olympique Lyon and is once again trying to establish himself in Madrid’s crowded attack.
Thiago Pitarch’s story is the most closely connected to the club itself. The midfielder joined Real Madrid’s academy in 2023, starting with the Juvenil C team. He made his senior debut in February 2026, replacing Eduardo Camavinga during the closing stages of the Champions League play-off victory over Benfica.
A few weeks later, Pitarch was handed his first Champions League start. He played 76 minutes against Manchester City and produced a performance that earned him plenty of praise. He was no longer merely an academy player included to fill a place in the squad. He was receiving meaningful minutes in meaningful matches.
The inclusion of all three players does not mean that they have reached the final stage of the award. The ranking will be updated every month until October, when the list will be reduced to 20 names. An international jury will then select the 2026 Golden Boy winner.
There is still a long way to go, but Real Madrid can already point to three young first-team players being monitored in the race. Pitarch’s presence also provides a welcome reminder that not every promising youngster has to arrive through the transfer market.
